19.6.2025 Uutiset

KiVa arrives in Colombia to prevent bullying: an initiative supported by the Finnish Embassy in Colombia

Colombia ranks sixth in the world with the most reported cases of bullying, according to figures shared by Nicolás Bermúdez, general manager of Ciprés Bienestar y Mercado Educativo and KiVa's exclusive representative in the country. Faced with this troubling reality, KiVa, the most globally recognized Finnish bullying prevention program, is coming to the country. It's backed by years of scientific research and proven effective in hundreds of educational institutions.

A problem that grows daily
The current situation in the country regarding bullying is alarming:

  • 64% of students in schools report having been victims of bullying.
  • 7 out of 10 children have experienced cyberbullying.
  • 75% of victims consider dropping out of school.
  • 86% have even considered escaping bullying through drastic measures.

These figures reflect the urgency of implementing effective and sustained solutions that protect children and adolescents within the school environment.

KiVa: A Science-Based Program


Kiva ​​is structured around three fundamental pillars:
1. Prevention: through lessons designed for all grades, from elementary to high school.

2. Intervention: through a specialized team that addresses reported cases of bullying.

3. Monitoring: which allows for monitoring situations and evaluating the program's implementation.

Thanks to the support of the Finnish Embassy in Colombia, the program was officially launched in Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Medellín, and partnerships have already been established with the Bogotá Ministry of Education to work with both private and public schools.


Schools that are already taking iniciative
Calendar B schools such as Gimnasio Campestre Los Cerezos, Colegio Marymount de Bogotá, Gimnasio San Rafael, Colegio Ekirayá Montessori, Colegio San José de Barranquilla, and Colegio Berchmans de Cali have already begun the process of implementing the program.


Likewise, calendar A schools such as Evergreen School, Gimnasio Los Arrayanes, Colegio Americano de Bogotá, Gimnasio Campestre del Reino Británico, and Liceo de Cervantes El Retiro will begin in the coming months.


In addition, one of Bogotá's public schools will be part of a pilot program in partnership with the Ministry of Education, marking a key step toward including the public sector in this prevention strategy.


Committed to school well-being
"We are proud and very happy to be able to contribute to education through prevention and the protection of our students," said Nicolás Bermúdez, who reiterated Ciprés and KiVa's commitment to transforming school environments in Colombia.


This initiative seeks not only to reduce bullying rates but also to generate a cultural change that promotes empathy, respect, and coexistence within the classroom.

Schools already apopting KiVa

Calendar B schools such as Gimnasio Campestre Los Cerezos, Colegio Marymount in Bogotá, Gimnasio San Rafael, Colegio Ekirayá Montessori, Colegio San José in Barranquilla, and Colegio Berchmans in Cali have already begun the process of implementing the program.

The Embassy of Finland represented the Kiva program on the Marymount School panel in May 2025, at the conference launching its new strategy for the next five years. The KiVa program will be an integral part of the new strategy with its focus on developing students' socio-emotional skills. Former Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez also participated in the panel, emphasizing the importance of school programs like Kiva in the country, in developing emotionally balanced, resilient, and empathetic individuals.